Buying at Auction

ksurfer2 · Jan 13, 2020

Has anyone here ever bought their car from an auction such as Mecum or Barrett-Jackson? I came close to registering to bid on a car at the Kissimmee auction.

When you buy from auction, what level of inspection of the vehicle is the bidder allowed? Is it nothing more than look at the car as it sits and pray for the best?

Darter6 · Jan 13, 2020

Pretty much, If you are lucky someone might be there with the car so you can hear it run, check to see if everything works and give the body a good going over. If the seller is there you can build a rapport with said person showing you are serious.
I've only sold and never bought. Sometimes you can get a great car for a good price. It depends on what you want. If the auction house allows a reserve and it is not met you can make a offer to the owner as the house will place a "Still for sale" sticker on it.Or keep in contact with the seller and deal after the car leaves the property. I've seen deals go down as cars are loading to leave.
A local guy buys every other year at the B-J Vegas auction,drives them for awhile and sells out right or returns to auction.Sometimes you win some times you loose.
I should say also it depends on what you want.A hemi 'Cuda convertible ? Your gonna pay. A nice plain Jane base Super Bee that no one else it causing a bidding war,that's possible.

stillrunners · Jan 13, 2020

Seems there is a time and maybe the opportunity to view them up close under a tent in the days before the auction. This past week I got some up close pictures from a guy that was there and going through the tents looking at the cars - it was a static and not being started. If your internet bidding then maybe find someone to due a inspection - good luck !

68Moparmaniac · Jan 13, 2020

A plane ticket to the auction so you can lay eyeballs on it yourself would be your best bet. Cant blame anyone else if it turns out to be a turd...IMO

ksurfer2 · Jan 13, 2020

I only live an hour from Kissimmee, so I was there over the weekend, and a car caught my eye. I was very tempted, but didn't do anything reckless. It did get me thinking though...as nice as the car was sitting there, I could see what work it would need by what was readily apparent, but it was tough to see the underside of the car, or get any sense of the condition of the drive train. I just don't know if you register as a bidder in advance if there is an opportunity to do a closer and more thorough inspection of the car.

https://www.mecum.com/lots/FL0120-397605/1966-dodge-coronet-440/

This car didn't sell at $30k.

Body looked very straight, interior was in great shape. Chrome needed a little help, but was overall nice. Would have made for a nice driver.

Darter6 · Jan 13, 2020

In all reality no. The cars are parked in the tent and that's it. Cars are not allowed to move until their turn is on the block. Then it goes into staging.That's why I mentioned that if lucky the owner will be around the car.
I'm sure they were planning on getting $50K.

dart4forte · Jan 13, 2020

I’ve done a few auction car inspections over the past few years. Yes, hard to get good info, nobody from the auction house will know details. The auction house depends on what the owner tells them.

I try and take a peek under the dash, I have thin magnet cards to check for mud. I recently bought a gauge to measure thickness, pop the hood, check the oil etc. Take pictures.

If you are a phone bidder, $300 could save you thousands.

Demonic · Jan 13, 2020

Go to a local tool auction, if you've never been to an auction at all.

Just because it's on TV doesn't mean it's not full of bondo or fake, etc. Buyer beware.

erickson · Jan 13, 2020

Go to to the auction. Take a flashlight. Look under it good. Take the trunk key off the key chain and check it out. The last one I went to I went early and started up the cars still they told me not to. If you’re going to spend your money check out as much as you can

5.7 hemi · Jan 13, 2020

Don’t forget, usually the seller and buyer have to pay a premium on top of the sold price.......it’s BS that the buyer should pay anything but the winning bid, in my opinion.

erickson · Jan 14, 2020

I sold a car at a local action a few years ago. To make the deal he dropped the seller fees and gave be part of the buyers fee He really wanted to get the deal done

33 IMP · Jan 14, 2020

I sometimes wonder what people see, or don't see, at auctions . (Forgive me, I know it's a chevy, trying to make a point). Just saw a very nice 68 chevelle go across the block. Ten grand worth of paint, five grand (at least) of 8-71 blown small block, two grand worth of polished centerline and tires. It sold for 28k. I couldn't dupe that car for twice that. Yet I see mb 190sl, and Austin Healeys, and vw vans sell for four times what I would pay.
My best advice for auction buying is... If you are serious about buying something, go to the preview, and buy on the first day of the auction, or the tail end of the last day.
Edit just saw a low mile w12 Bentley continental 150k new, sell for 44k, about the same as a loaded camry. First sale day.

Darter6 · Jan 15, 2020

Totally agree ^^ There are some very good buys. At B-J I've seen cars go for as little as $8000. Day one and the last day. Friday and Saturday usually are when the Heavy Hitters come out to play.

Buying at Auction

ksurfer2

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Darter6

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stillrunners

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68Moparmaniac

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ksurfer2

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Darter6

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dart4forte

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Demonic

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erickson

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5.7 hemi

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erickson

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33 IMP

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Darter6

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